Type-writing machine.



I PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906;

E- G. LATTA.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.-

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e, 1902.

w c nepie f EMMIT G. LATTA, OF FRIENDSHIP ,NEW

TO HARVEY A. MOYER, O

YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MA HINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. March 6, 1906.

Applidation filed September 6, 1902. Serial No; 122.352.

To all whom it mayconcern:

, antifriction-bearings of v bearings embodying the invention, a

. hangers and one type-bar.

ings may be employed, an

' Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Friendshipfln the county of Allegany and State ,of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Mae chines, of which the following is a specification.

e a This invention relates to improvements in type-writing .machines, and more particularly to antifriction-bearings for the typebars.

One object of the invention is to provide exceedingly simple and compact form which can be produced at the minimum cost.'

Another object of the invention is the provision of simple means whereby the bearings can be adjusted individually or in a group and can be individually disconnected from the supporting segment or frame.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the supporting-segment that it will protect the bearings from dust and dirt.

In the accompanying drawings, Fi ure 1- is a front elevation, partly in section, 0 atypebar segment provided with type bars and portion only of the bars ,and bearings being shown.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the seg-- ment, showing one type-bar and its bearinghanger in elevation. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing two adjacent Figs. 4 and .5 are sectional views showing. modified forms of the t pe-bars and hangers.

Li eletters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings the parts are shown as arranged for a frontstrike machine; but the invention is also. applicable 'to machines in which the printingpoint is either above orbelow the platen. Also any number of'the type-bars and bearthey may be arranged in more than one .row, and the form of the type-head on the bar may be varied to suit different machines.

A represents the type-barfsu giort or segment, which, as usua is curve concentric with the printing-point andis secured in anyv approved manner to the ,type-wnter frame (not shown)for instance, by. bolts (1 atthe opposite ends of the segment.

B represents the type-bars, and O the bearing-hangers therefor, which are secured and on the opposite side with a central depression or socket d. Each hanger is provided with a circular bearing-head, which is cupped or provided with a circular cavity e on one side. the type-bars are arranged between the hangers with their cones projecting into the cups of the hangers to form annular raceways forcircular rows of balls e. e represents a retaining-ball which is confined in the socket in the bearing enlargement of each type-bar and bears a ainst the face of the adjacent hanger head. are held in a plane intersecting theprintingpoint, and the type end of the type-bar is in- .clined, so that the type-head swings in the plane of its circular row of balls. The c1 ank portion f of the type-bar, to which the operating-link is connected, is also preferably )fiset to bring it in the plane of the. circular row of balls, and thus avoid cross strain on the bearing. The retaining-ball seats itself in the socket in. the type-bar enlargement and simly bears at one point on the next hangerhea'd, which point is in the axis of the hearing. The retaining-ball does not, therefore, a preciably obstructv the free movement of tffe type-bar. The surface of the head of the hanger on which the retaining-ball for each type-bar bears is preferably parallel with the plane of the circular row of balls for said type-bar to cause the retaining-ball to work on a surface perpendicular to the axis of the bearin ,made from sheet-metal-blanks which have the bearing portions ressed or bent to form the cups and cones or the circular row of The hangers are provided with rearwardlyprojecting securing-shanks, which are attached to the segment 'byscrews G, which pass through loops 9, formed on the hangershanks. The l The bearing enlargements on,

The type-bars and hangers are The circular row of balls 6 balls and the socket for the retaining-ball.

cops are sufliciently larger thanthe diameter of the attaching-screws to allow the hen gers to' be shifted. lbnzitudi-= nally on the segment to adjust the bearings and take up wear therein when the screws are loosened without causing the disengagement of the screw-heads'from the shanks. In order to prevent the hangers from turning about their securing-screws or moving transversely of the segment, the latter is pro vided in its outer face with longitudinal grooves h, in which engage lugs or projections it, formed on each hanger on opposite sides of the loop. The lugs and grooves prevent the hanger-loops from spreading and add to the rigidity of the attachment, but do notserves as the abutment or bearing for said balls. The opposite faces of the stop are preferably arallel with the adjacent rows of bearing-ha ls, so that the retaining-balls bear on the stop in the axes of the bearings.

The means shown for adjusting or crowding the bearings together consists of two adjusting-screws J, one located at each end of the segment. The adjusting-screws work in screw-threaded holes in brackets or lugs j, secured to or formed on the segment, and abut at their inner ends centrally against the circular heads of the outer hangers. In assembling the bearings each hanger, together with its type-bar, circular row of balls, and retaining-ball, is placed on the segment and loosely secured by turning its attachings "r ew nearly home. lifter all of the hangers ojirone side of the center stop have been thus loosely secured in place the adjusting-screw J on that side of the segment is turned until all of the hearings on that side of the segment are forced into proper adjustment, and then the screws for the several hangers are tightened up to firmly secure the hangers in their adjusted positions. The bearings on the other side of the center stop are similarly assembled and adjusted. If one or more of the bearings wear loose at any time, the at-' taching-screws for the hangers can be loosened and the wear taken up by the adjustingscrews in the manner described for adjusting the bearings. If preferred, the hangerscrews may be tightened only enough to hold the hangers against looseness on the segment and the adj usting-screws turned to force them along the segment to take up any wear that may take place. In either case the several bearings on one side of the center stop are simultaneously adjusted and the looseness from wear automatically distributed among the hangers. The arrangement is such that the hangers or any one of them can be removed and replaced without disturbing other parts of the machine or the other hangers.

The segment (see Fig. 2) is provided on its front side with a flange K, which overhangs or covers the bearings and prevents dust or dirt from falling into the bearings. The flange is preferably curved downwardly over the upper sides of the bearings, as shown. The type-bars are curved downwardly or suitably cut away at their inner ends to permit them to move to the printing position without striking the cover-flange on the segment.

Instead of providing the center stop and arrangin the bearings as described on opposite si es thereof the step can be omitted and all of the bearings adjusted by forcing them with one adjusting-screw against the other adjusting-screw or other stop or by turning both adjusting-screws to crowd the bearings between them. The center stop, however, is preferable, as it retains the typebars on each side of it in substantially the same position instead of permitting more bars to be grouped on one side of the stop than on the other, as is liable to be the case after repeated adjustments without the center stop. Moreover, where the adjustment is made from both ends of the segment the movement of individual hangers is only about half as much as it would be if the hangers were all moved one way. Thus the necessary movement for taking up the wear after long usage is afforded with narrower shanks for the hangers and more hangers and type-bars can be mounted on a segment of given length.

Ball-bearing hangers and type-bars have been devised heretofore; but they have been made by machining from forgings or solid stock and were expensive, and the bearings for the several type-bars had to be individually adjusted, or where a common adjusting means has been employed the adjusting device has been passed through central openings in the type-bars and hangers. These openings are objectionable, because they necessitatc larger hearings or ball-races.

While the type-bars and hangers formed as above described are deemed preferable at the present time, they may be formed in various other ways to accomplish the desired results. For instance, they may be eon-. strueted as shown in Figs. 4 and ,5. j The form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that described except that the ball-cup Z is formed in the type-bar and the cone Z on the hanger. Fig. 5 shows the hanger p formed with the cup and the type-bar having on one side a cone entering said cup to form a raceway for the balls 9:

and on the other sidea center retaining pivot or projection p instead of the retaining-ball vided and there is no adjusting means passing through the bearings. From the different forms of the invention shown it is obvious that the manner of mounting and adjusting the hangers and type-bars is applicable to type-bars andhangers whether either or both are made of forgings or from sheet metal and that the forms of the bearing portions of the hangers and type-bars may be widely varied and still be within the scope of this invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A series of vibrating type-bars and sup porting-hangers therefor arranged in pairs, a

row of balls inclosed between the type-bar and hanger of each pair, and a lateral connection in the axial lineabout which the typebar swings between the type-bar supported by one hanger and the hanger that supports its neighboring type-bar, substantially as set han ers laterally adjustable on said su forth.

2. A series of vibrating type-bars, and intermediate supportinghangers, an interposed circular row of balls acting to pivotally connect each bar and one hanger, and a pointed lateral extension arranged in the exact axial line and having an end bearing between the type-bar supported on one hanger, and the hanger for the next adjoining typebar of the series, substantially as set forth.

3. A sheet-Inetaltype-bar having a printing character at one end, a circular seat or race for bearing-balls on one side of the other end, and a seat for a single ball op osite the centier of the ball-race, substantia ly as set fort A 4. A sheet-metal type-bar hanger formed of a single strip of sheet metal having a central reverse curve forming an ofiset loop for a retaining-screw, substantially as set forth. 5. The combination of a support, type-bar ort a vi rating type-bar, a row of bearingalls interposed between said type-bar and one hanger, and an independent center bearing on the axial line by which the lateral movement of one hanger is limited b the adjoining hanger, substantially as set orth.

6. The-combination of a support, type-bar han ers. laterally adjustable on said support, a vi rating type-bar, a row of bearing-balls interposed between said type-bar and one han or, an inde endent center bearing on the axia line by-w ich the lateralmovement of one hanger 1s limited by the adjoining hanger, and means acting on the axial line of said hangers for adjustingthe same laterally, substantially as set fort 7. A type-bar, and hanger therefor, consisting of two parts 0% sheet metal, each of uniform thickness provided with depressed cups forming opposable bearing-surfaces for an interposed circular row of balls, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a series of vibrating ty e-bars, and hangers therefor arranged sidh by side and havin opposable ball-bearing faces, a row of-bal s interposed between the bearing-faces of each type-bar and its hanger and working thereon, a supportingsegment for the ban ers arranged wholly out side of the circular all-seats, and a rocking contactoint between each type-bar and the hanger t at supports the adjacent type-bar, substantially as set forth.

9. A group of type-bars and hangers having circular parts and arranged with a typebar beside each hanger, and a circular row of balls between each type-bar and its hanger, each type-bar having a rocking connection with the adjacent hanger inside of the row of pan; on the axial line, substantially as set ort 10. The combination of a support, a series of vibrating type-bars, and laterally-movable ent meansfor transmitting the lateral move ment of one hanger along the axial line to the bar supported by the next hanger, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a sup ort, a series of vibrating type-bars, a series 0 hangers laterall movab e on said support and arranged side y side, a circular row of balls arranged in a plane between each type-bar and its hanger, and a contact-bearing between each bar and the next adjoining hanger, the said contact-bearing being on the axial line of the circular row of. balls, and at the exact center thereof, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a support, a series of laterally-movable hangers, vibrating type bars supported thereby, a series of. center connections and contact-points limiting the lateral movement of the hangers, and attaching devices for said hangers whereby either of the hangers may be detached without disturbing the other hangers, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with a segment, and group of laterally-movable type-bar hangers thereon, of a fixed stop arranged on these ment between the hangers to limit the1r movement, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination witha segment, and cup of laterally;adjustable-type-bars and i angers therefor,'of a fixed stop arranged between the hangers on the segment, and an 'adjustin -screw acting to force the ban ers toward t e stop, substantially as set fort 15. The combination with a segment, a series of type-bar hangers supported thereby, and vibrating typebars, of contact-points arranged exactly on the axial line of the typei bars between the several hangers and adjacent bars, and means for forcing the several bars and hangers into contact, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of a segment, a series of laterally-movable type-bar hangers supported thereby, a vibrating type-bar supported by each hanger and an interposed row of balls, and a central retaining-ball between. each hanger and the bar supported" by the next hanger of the series, substantially as set forth.

17. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a pivoted typebar, and a dustshield convexed transversely whereby the shield partially incloses and prevents the admission of dust to the pivot-bearing for the type-bar, said type-bar being formed to receive the dust-shield when the bar is in the printing position so that the dust-shield does not interfere with the swinging movement of the bar, substantially as set forth.

E. A. HEWITT, W. A. STEVENS. 

